DENNIS: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

WE'LL CONTINUE OUR SERIES "LESSONS FROM COVID 19" WITH A LOOK AT HOW OUTDOOR RECREATION TOOK OFF DURING THE PANDEMIC, ESPECIALLY ON MINNESOTA'S NORTH SHORE.

VISITOR NUMBERS ARE JUMPING IN DOUGLAS COUNTY AND BEYOND.

WE'LL TALK WITH THE TRAVEL SUPERIOR CEO ABOUT SUMMER TOURISM PROSPECTS.

AND AN UPDATE ON A TROUBLED NASHWAUK MINING PROJECT AND SHORTAGES IN LUMBER AND VEHICLES IN "VOICES OF THE REGION".

THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH!

♪ DENNIS: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

JULIE IS OFF THIS WEEK AS WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING IN OUR STUDIO.

WELL HERE'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T HEAR OFTEN IN EARLY JUNE IN OUR REGION: HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WARNING FOLKS TO STAY SAFE DURING A WEEKEND HEATWAVE.

TEMPERATURES APPROACHING 90 DEGREES COULD PUT PEOPLE AT RISK FOR HEAT STROKE OR HEAT EXHAUSTION.

IF YOU ARE SPENDING EXTENDED TIME OUTDOORS, USE SUNSCEEN, STAY HYDRATED, AND PAY ATTENTION TO SIGNS YOUR BODY IS UNDER HEAT STRESS.

THE MINNESOTA DNR ISSUED A "RED FLAG WARNING" FOR EXTREME FIRE DANGER IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA FRIDAY.

THE RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THE SITUATION IS IDEAL FOR WILDFIRES, WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES, WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS.

THE DNR CAUTIONS AGAINST BURNING DURING THESE CONDITIONS, AND TO CHECK THAT ANY BURNS DONE RECENTLY ARE COMPLETELY OUT, BECAUSE A SINGLE SPARK COULD START A WILDFIRE.

A "YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH NIGHT" WILL BE HELD NEXT THURSDAY, JUNE 10 AT THE MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER IN CHISHOLM.

THE EVENT SPONSORED BY THE HIBBING CHAMBER AND FAIRVIEW RANGE MEDICAL CENTER WILL FOCUS ON HEALTHY LIVING STRATEGIES AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

AND FILINGS ARE BEING ACCEPTED NOW THROUGH JUNE 15 FOR DULUTH SCHOOL BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL OPENINGS.

THERE ARE FOUR SEATS ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL ON BOTH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL.

COUNCIL CANDIDATES FILE AT THE CITY CLERKS OFFICE, AND SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES FILE AT THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

OUR SPECIAL SERIES "LESSONS FROM COVID-19" CONTINUES THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT HOW THE PANDEMIC SPURRED A RISE IN OUTDOOR RECREATION.

PEOPLE TIRED OF BEING COOPED UP INDOORS FOUND THEMSELVE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR REGION'S NATURAL ATTRACTIONS.

MINNESOTA'S NORTH SHORE IN PARTICULAR EXPERIENCED A RUSH OF VISITORS, CREATING SOME CHALLENGES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES: >> EVERYTHING ALL ALONG WAS BUSIER, TRAFFIC ON THE NORTH SHORE WAS BUSIER.

ACROSS THE BOARD, RETAIL SALES WERE UP.

WE WERE STILL PRETTY LOW STOCKED LAST SUMMER AND WE ARE GOING INTO THE SUMMER PRETTY GOOD, YES THERE IS DEFINITELY SHORTAGES, PROBABLY THE BIKE INDUSTRY THAT -- IS THE ONE THAT GOT HIT HARDEST FOR US.

AND YES, WE HELD ONTO OUR RENTAL BIKES KNOWING IT WOULD BE A BIG QUESTION MARK FOR WHEN WE GOT THEM, IF WE WANTED TO GET THEM IN AUGUST WE WILL GET THEM IN JUNE, NOW IT'S PUSHED OUT.

IT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO RAMP UP QUICKLY, IT DEFINITELY SURPRISED US.

WE FIGURED IT WOULD BE SLOW, STILL PRETTY CAUTIOUS, BUT WE WERE -- WE ARE IN AN INDUSTRY THAT PEOPLE FELT SAFE DOING, THEY WANTED TO GET OUT OF THEIR HOUSE AFTER BEING LOCKED UP AND STUFF LIKE THAT SO IT WAS JUST THE PERFECT STORM AND EVERYONE STARTED COMING UP TO THE SHORE AND ENJOYING THE AREA, YOU KNOW.

>> I NOTICED THAT THE FLY ANGLERS CHASING STEELHEAD WERE NOT SHELTERING IN PLACE, THEY WERE COMING TO THE NORTH SHORE AND FISHING OUR STREAMS AND RIVERS.

THAT WAS YOU KNOW LAST MARCH.

A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS MARCH, BUT I WAS NOTICING ON THE RIVERS THAT I WAS GETTING REPORTS THAT IN THE DULUTH AREA THEY WERE BUSY AND I THINK PEOPLE THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE UP SHORE TO FIND SOME MAY BE LESS CROWDED RIVERS, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME IDEA.

IT WAS BUSY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, NOT JUST WEEKENDS.

THAT WAS A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE ON THE STREAMS APPEAR IN THE AREA.

-- UP HERE IN THE AREA.

>> WE MANAGED OVER 300 MILES OF HIKING TRAIL, 94 CAMPSITES OVER 60 TRAILHEADS FROM WISCONSIN BORDER JUST BELOW THE STATE PARK TO THE CANADIAN BORDER.

2020 WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONSTRUCTION YEARS AND PROBABLY RECENT HISTORY, WE WERE DOING A LOT OF RENEWAL PROJECTS SO RENEWING A LOT OF OUR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE, BRIDGES, BOARDWALKS, TREAD WORK THAT HAD ERODED OVER TIME.

SO WE HAD TO PUT A LOT OF THINGS ON HOLD.

WE KNOW THAT OUR TRAILHEADS WERE FULL, OUR PARTNERS AT OUR STATE PARKS WERE FULL AS WELL.

SO WE KNOW THAT MORE PEOPLE WERE ON THE TRAIL THAN EVER BEFORE.

>> WE ARE NOT A BUSINESS THAT CAN BE VIRTUAL, WE ARE A RETAIL STORE AND PEOPLE WANT TO COME IN AND HE IT, TOUCH IT, TALK TO US.

WE GIVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE AREA, GOING INTO THE WATERS AND HELPING THEM WITH GEAR AND MAPS AND ALL OF THAT.

A LOT OF THAT IS MORE HANDS-ON.

WE HAVE FOUND ON THE RENTAL AND, THE PROCESS OF HOW WE DO RESERVATIONS AND PICKUPS, WE HAVE STREAMLINED IT AND WE WILL KEEP THAT GOING.

>> I DID A LITTLE CURBSIDE BUSINESS DURING THE SHUTDOWN, IT WAS NOT -- IT IS HARD TO DO THAT BECAUSE I HAVE TO DRIVE IN 20 MILES TO THE SHOP TO OPEN THE SHOP, TO DO A CURBSIDE PICKUP.

FOR ME I DID NOT MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE TO DO THAT.

I OPENED OTHER PRODUCT LINES AND THINGS BECAUSE I'M HAVING SOME PROBLEMS GETTING SUPPLY FROM MY NORMAL VENDORS.

I'M RECEIVING MAYBE 70% OF IN ORDER.

SO I HAVE HAD TO GO AND OPEN OTHER ACCOUNTS SO THAT I CAN HAVE THE STUFF THAT WE NEED TO GET OUT AND FISH IN THE STREAMS AND LAKES AND COOK COUNTY.

I FEEL LIKE -- I ORDERED ADDITIONAL GUIDES OR CONTRACTED WITH ADDITIONAL GUIDES FOR THE SUMMER SO THAT I CAN ACCOMMODATE MORE ANGLERS.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS TAKEN AWAY, WE PIVOTED AND WENT VIRTUAL FOR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT PEOPLE REALLY VALUE BEING ABLE TO CONNECT VIA A WEBINAR AND ONLINE, YOU CAN BE IN YOUR LIVING ROOM ON YOUR COMPUTER IN MINNEAPOLIS AND STILL ATTEND A SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL ASSOCIATION EVENT.

WE REALIZED THAT BY HAVING ONLINE EVENTS LIKE THAT WE WERE OPENING IT UP TO MORE PEOPLE AND US SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MORE ONLINE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EVENTS MOVING FORWARD.

>> MANAGEMENT IS BECOMING MORE OF A FOCUS FOR OUR ASSOCIATION AS NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE.

WE KNOW THAT WE SAW BIGGER NUMBERS THAN EVER ON OUR TRAIL SO ONE THING WE ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION IS HOW WE CAN USE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR MARKETING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT LESSER-KNOWN BUT EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL PARTS OF THE TRAIL.

>> PLAN AHEAD.

IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER BUSY SUMMER, JUST HEARING FROM OTHER BUSINESSES, LODGING FACILITIES, CAMP GROUNDS ARE GETTING FULL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS A LOT MORE THINGS ARE OPEN SO LEG LAST YEAR THE NATIONAL FOREST HAD A LOT OF CAMP GROUNDS THAT STATE CLOSED, -- LIKE LAST YEAR THE NATIONAL -- THEY HAD A LOT OF CAMP GROUNDS THAT STATE CLOSED.

-- STAYED CLOSED.

SO PLAN AHEAD, BUSINESSES ARE TRYING TO GET BY AND MAKE CHANGES IN TRYING TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY ARE BEING DEALT.

>> I THINK WE DID SO MANY THINGS RIGHT DURING THE PANDEMIC WITHIN OUR MEANS.

WE ADAPTIVELY ADDRESSED OUR BUDGET AND OUR STAFFING AND OUR VOLUNTEER SAFETY, OUR TRAIL USE SAFETY PROTOCOL.

I THINK THE ONLY THING WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO DO BETTER, IS TEACHING THE PRINCIPLES OF LEAVE NO TRACE.

AS NEW PEOPLE JOIN US AS TRAIL USERS, WE NEED TO BRING ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE ALONG IN UNDERSTANDING THAT ALTHOUGH A RECREATIONAL RESOURCE, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF AND REALLY USE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES.

I WANT TO EXPRESS THE FACT THAT THE HIKING TRAIL IS REALLY HAPPY WE WERE ABLE TO PLAY SUCH AN INSTRUMENT OF ROLE FOR SO MANY FOLKS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE DID NOT FORESEE THAT WE WOULD BE A KEY PLAYER IN HELPING PEOPLE PROCESS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE OF A PANDEMIC.

BUT WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE COULD CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND CONNECT TO NATURE.

DENNIS: WITH PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS REMOVED, LOCAL TOURISM OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A RETURN TO "NORMAL".

AND FOLLOWING A HECTIC MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, IT APPEARS OUR REGION COULD BE IN FOR A BUSY SUMMER.

JOINING US NOW IS TAYLOR PEDERSON, PRESIDENT AND C-E-O OF -- CEO OF TRAVEL SUPERIOR, THE SUPERIOR AND DOUGLAS COUNTY TRAVEL BUREAU.

WE WILL TALK A LITTLE ABOUT TRAVEL AND TOURISM, JUST HOW TOUGH WAS IT LAST YEAR ON LOCAL TOURISM?

TAYLOR: IT WAS TOUGH.

EVERY INDUSTRY FELT IT BUT TOURISM, TRAVEL, HOSPITALITY VOTED HARDEST.

THE POSITIVE IS IT IS COMING BACK FASTER, FOR TRAVEL SUPERIOR IT IS COMING BACK FASTER IN A LOT OF AREAS -- THEN A LOT OF AREAS.

DENNIS: WHAT YOU EXPECT FOR THE SUMMER?

I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT.

TAYLOR: I THINK WE ARE WELL-POSITIONED TO HAVE A GOOD YEAR.

LODGING IS UP, AFTER GETTING HIS UP, WE ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE ON TRAILS AND WE HAVE EVER SEEN.

DENNIS: WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA -- THIS PART OF WISCONSIN WHEN A SODA -- AND IN A SODA SEEMS TO BE BOUNCING BACK QUICKER.

TAYLOR: YEAH, WHEN THEN WE ALWAYS FOCUS ON IS RECREATION, ANYTHING YOU CAN DO OUTDOORS IS PERCEIVED AS SAFE AND CHANCES ARE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO IT BY YOURSELF OR WITH YOUR LOVED ONES AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS GIVEN US AN ADVANTAGE DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR ATTRACTING THAT TYPE OF TOURISM.

DENNIS: AND IT DOES HAVE A GREAT DRAW -- DO YOU CONTRIBUTE THAT TO ALL OF THE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES , THE POSSIBILITIES TO GET OUTSIDE?

TAYLOR: IT HAS DEFTLY HELPED.

FOR TOURISTS, THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE.

DENNIS: OUR TOURISTS SPENDING MONEY -- ARE TOURISTS SPENDING MONEY HERE?

TAYLOR: ABSOLUTELY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM RELEASE NUMBERS AND EVEN THOUGH WE SAW A DECREASE FROM 2020, WE STILL SAW APPROXIMATELY 8.2 7 MILLION -- 82.7 MILLION, THAT'S REAL TAXES FOR OUR CITIZENS.

DENNIS: COULD THAT DOUBLE THIS YEAR OR CLOSE TO IT?

TAYLOR: THAT'S A BIG STRETCH BUT I'M HOPEFUL.

WE ARE WORKING THROUGH CHALLENGES IN STAFFING AND WORKFORCE BUT I THINK OUR BUSINESSES ARE POSITIONED TO DO WELL IN TOURISM'S POSITION TO DO WELL SO HOPEFULLY THAT TREND IS DAYS AND NUMBERS OF THE PANDEMIC STAY LOW.

BUT YEAH, WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE HOPEFULLY A NICE YEAR.

DENNIS: HOW CAN A BUSINESS PLAN ITINERARIES?

TAYLOR: THAT IS TOUGH, IT COMES DOWN TO COMFORT LEVELS OF THE GROUP, WHETHER IT BE A SPORTING EVENT, CONVENTION, A MEETING, ANYTHING.

THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE DO AS A VISITOR BUREAU AND DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, WE WORK TO GIVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE.

DENNIS: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HOTELS.

ANOTHER IS COMING UP.

TAYLOR: CORRECT, COPPER STONE HOTELS IS COMING IN DOWNTOWN SUPERIOR AND IT WILL LIVEN UP THE AREA.

IT WILL BE ANOTHER DIMENSION TO THAT DEVELOPMENT.

DENNIS: IF ANY TAURUS IS WATCHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO DO WHILE THEY'RE HERE?

TAYLOR: EVERYTHING.

WHATEVER YOUR INTEREST IS, WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU AND COLLECTIVELY AS A REGION WE REALLY DO.

WE OFFER A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING AND WE ARE IN A GOOD SPOT TO WELCOME TOURISTS.

WHETHER IT IS AN EVENT THAT HAPPENS THE SUMMER, WHETHER IT IS SOMEBODY COMING TO LITERALLY SIT IN A HOTEL AND A READ A BOOK OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN, ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS, WE HAVE SOME FOR YOU.

DENNIS: SUPERIOR IS KNOWN FOR ITS MUSEUMS.

TAYLOR: WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FANTASTIC MUSEUMS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN AS MUCH COLLABORATION AS THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN GIVING THE VISITOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE.

DENNIS: I DON'T KNOW OF ANY TAURUS WHO DOES NOT LIKE TO SHOP.

-- TOURIST WHO DOES NOT LIKE TO SHOP.

TAYLOR: WE HAVE A NICE SELECTION OF RETAIL, THEY'RE STRONG AND OUTDOORS, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR OUTDOOR GEAR WE HAVE GREAT OPTIONS ON WHERE YOU CAN BUY THAT.

DENNIS: SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE BRACING FOR A WONDERFUL SUMMER AND SUPERIOR.

TAYLOR: I HOPE SO.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF TRAVEL SUPERIOR.

NEXT WEEK WE WILL CONTINUE "LESSONS FROM COVID-19" WITH A LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH AND THE PANDEMIC.

MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS SAY OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY HAS EXPERIENCED THE TRAUMA OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR THERAPY.

WE SPOKE WITH A DULUTH WOMAN WHO BEGAN GRIEF COUNSELING SHORTLY AFTER PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS BEGAN.

>> I KNOW THERE IS A MYTH OUT THERE THAT IF YOU HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS GRIEVING, YOU DON'T WANT TO BRING UP THE PERSON THEY HAVE LOST, THE NAME OF THE PERSON THEY HAVE LOST BECAUSE IT MIGHT MAKE THEM MORE SAD.

THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE MYTH.

I DID NOT FORGET.

I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN I LOST MY FATHER AND MY BROTHERS.

YOU CAN'T MAKE ME MORE SAD ABOUT THEM BY SAYING THEIR NAME.

IN FACT, IT IS THE OPPOSITE, I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE FORGOTTEN.

WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEM.

20 YEARS AGO, WE WOULD GET GREETING CARDS FROM LOVED ONES AROUND THE FUNERAL AND WE DON'T EVERY YEAR -- AND WE EVERY YEAR GO INTO THE BOX AND READ THE MESSAGE AND WHEN WE ARE LOOKING BACK FROM THE GRAVE FROM THE PANDEMIC, -- REEF FROM THE PANDEMIC, THAT IS DIGGING UP THE BOX FROM A TRAUMATIC TIME AND LOOKING THROUGH HIS MESSAGES.

WE WOULD NOT DO IT IF IT WAS A BOX BUT IT IS SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT IS ACCESSIBLE, IT IS THERE AND I'M NOT SAYING IT IS A BAD THING, JUST SAYING YOU WANT TO PREPARE YOURSELF EVERY DAY FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

BECAUSE OF ANNIVERSARY AFFECT AND BECAUSE OF THOSE TRAUMAS AND FEELINGS, THEY ARE STILL IN US, THEY ARE HARDWIRED INTO US FROM WHAT HAPPENED.

DENNIS: MORE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, NEXT WEEK ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ DENNIS: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION".

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST WITH MORE ON THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS WEEK NORTHERN MINNESOTA AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST AARON BROWN IS OUR GUEST: ♪ AARON: THE SR PROJECT, IT IS BACKED BY THE ORIGINAL INVESTORS AND LEADERS OF THE SR GLOBAL GROUP WHICH HAS BUILT AN INCREASING -- INCOMPLETE LINE ON THE OLD BUTLER SITE.

THEY HAVE POWER -- THE STATE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY WERE HOLDING THE MINERAL RIGHTS OF THE PROPERTY.

THEY RETAINED A NEW CEO, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF U.S. STEEL EXECUTIVE, TO BE THE CEO.

THEY HAVE PUT A PR TEAM TOGETHER AND THEY ARE GOING TO THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY DO INTEND TO INVEST MONEY IN FINISHING THE PROJECT AND THEY ARE SUING THE STATE TO GET THE LEASES BACK.

IN THE MEANTIME, IN THE PEYTON'S PLACE, OF MINING, THE CEO OF -- CEO LORENZO GONZALEZ HAS SUED THE SR GROUP OR LIBEL FOR MISSTATING OR WHAT HE SAYS IS A MISSTATEMENT OF TRUTH REGARDING CLIFF'S INTENTIONS AND PLANS IN THE AREA AND FEELS HIS COMPANY HAS BEEN DISPARAGED INCORRECTLY ON PURPOSE BY THE SR GROUP.

IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THAT, U.S. STEEL, ONE OF THE MAJOR IRON MINERS ON THE RANGE AND AN INTEGRATED COMPANY, FORMERLY THE TITAN OF STEELMAKING ACROSS THE WORLD, HAS DECIDED TO GET INVOLVED.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING IN A BID OR SOME KIND OF MOVE ON THE SR PROPERTY, AS WELL.

SO YOU HAVE THE TWO LARGEST IRON ORE PRODUCERS ON THE RANGE, CLIFFS AND U.S. STEEL CIRCLING THE SR PROJECT, TRYING TO GET IT, THE SR PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT.

AND THEY ARE CAUGHT IN A LAWSUIT.

♪ IF YOU ARE TRYING TO BUILD A HOUSE THE SUMMER OR ANY KIND OF STRUCTURE, YOU GO IN A LUMBER STORE AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME EVEN GETTING ENOUGH LUMBER.

IF YOU DO MANAGE TO GET ENOUGH, YOU ARE GOING TO PAY TWICE, THREE TIMES WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE PAID LAST YEAR.

TO GET THAT SAME AMOUNT OF MATERIAL.

THE PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING BECAUSE OF DWINDLING SUPPLY.

THE DEMAND IS HIGHER BECAUSE WE ARE COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMY HAS GENERALLY BEEN IMPROVING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

SO THE DEMAND IS TAKING UPWARD BUT THE SUPPLY IS HELD UP AND PART OF THAT SUPPLY ISSUE IS THE PANDEMIC, PRODUCTION DELAYS, AND THAT IS FOR INSTANCE WHILE YOU ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING A CAR RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW SOMEONE WHO WENT CAR SHOPPING RECENTLY AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE, JUSTIFYING, TO GO TO VERY BUSY DEALERSHIPS AND REALIZE THEY HAVE NO NEW CARS ON THEIR LOT FOR YOU TO BUY.

THAT IS A VERY STRANGE THING, NORMALLY THEY ARE HAPPY TO PUT YOU IN ONE OF MANY BUT THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP STOCK FROM THE FACTORIES, ARRESTED -- DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN MAKES.

WE HAVE A COMPLEX TRADE SYSTEM IN THIS WORLD WE HAVE CREATED AND WHEN IT INVOLVES AS MUCH TECHNOLOGY, WHEN THINGS ARE CROSSING OCEANS AND THEIR CUSTOMS, IT GETS TRICKY.

SOMETHING LIKE A PANDEMIC COUPLED WITH A TRADE WAR, TWO THINGS WE HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE WILL HAVE MOMENTS LIKE THIS ONE.

THINGS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT FROM A STRATEGIC STANDPOINT FOR THE UNITED STATES.

♪ AARON: THE PROJECT HAS TRIED TO CREATE A PERMANENT MARKER OF SOME KIND OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS -- THEY FINALLY DONE THAT.

THEIR BROKEN GROUND AND BY THE END OF THIS YEAR THEY WILL HAVE THE MONUMENT ERECTED, IT IS GOING TO BE KIND OF A -- NOT JUST A PLAQUE BUT A WHOLE WALL OF QUOTES FROM HIS MUSIC.

IT WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS HE HAS WRITTEN AND SOME ABOUT GIVING AND LIFE IN GENERAL, HIS MUSIC IS VERY BROAD AND VARIED IN ITS THEME.

SO THAT IS A BIG CHANGE, TO SEE PEOPLE FROM THE SLIGHTLY YOUNGER GENERATION THAN BOB HIMSELF, PEOPLE HAVE EMBRACED THAT MUCH.

WITH ALL THINGS, TIME USES THOSE OLD JEALOUSIES AND RESENTMENTS AND CONCERNS.

AND YOU REALIZE IN THE FULL SCOPE OF THE STORY, BOB DYLAN IS A SIGNIFICANT AMERICAN.

HE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY INFLUENCED BY THE STEW THAT WAS BREWING IN THE 1950'S, 40'S AND 50'S, AND HE WAS FOREVER SHAPED BY THAT.

THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT BOB DYLAN'S STORY BUT IT ALSO SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT OUR STORY IN MINNESOTA.

THAT SOME THING TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

-- THAT IS SOME THING TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

♪ ♪ DENNIS: NEXT THURSDAY, WDSE WILL BROADCAST A BRAND-NEW MUSIC PROGRAM FEATURING MUSICIANS AND THE LANDSCAPES OF OUR REGION.

"NORTHERN RHYTHMS" FEATURES LOCAL MUSICIANS PLAYING EVERYTHING FROM COUNTRY TO JAZZ TO CLASSICAL IN PLACES THAT INSPIRE THEM.

HERE'S A PREVIEW, AND A BRIEF LOOK AT WHAT IT TOOK TO PUT THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER.

♪ >> HAVE A LOT OF NATURAL BEAUTY IN THIS AREA.

FOR A LONG TIME, WDSE HAS BEEN DOING MUSIC SHOWS.

AT THIS TIME WE ARE HAVING THE BANDS OUTSIDE IN THE AUDIENCE.

>> THE THING THAT SEPARATES THIS PROGRAM IS THE FACT THAT IT TAKES PLACE OUTDOORS IN A NATURAL SETTING.

>> WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING DIFFERENT MUSICIANS, REGIONAL MUSICIANS AND WE ARE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THE SCENIC BEAUTY OF THE AREA.

WE HAVE GOT A HUGE VARIETY -- ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND HERE THAT ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL.

THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT MUSICIANS AND FIVE DIFFERENT LOCALES.

THIS IS BASED ON DIFFERENT THINGS INCLUDING MUSICIANS, PLACES THEY ARE ATTACHED TO YOU IN SOME WAY.

WE HAD TO PUT IN CLOSE TO 1000 MILES.

THE LOCATIONS WE SHOT AT GO -- A LOT OF THEM ARE OVERLOOKED.

THOMPSON LAKE.

IT REALLY SHOWS OFF SOME OF THE GREAT TALENT WE HAVE APPEAR AND SOME OF THE GREAT PEOPLE.

THE BANDS WERE GREAT TO WORK WITH.

IT WAS A BLAST TO BE OUTSIDE WITH THEM.

WE WANTED TO SHOWCASE THE BEAUTY OF THE REGION.

♪ DENNIS: BE SURE TO TUNE IN NEXT THURSDAY AT 8:00 P.M. FOR "NORTHERN RHYTHMS" ON PBS NORTH.

FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON OUR SHOW, FOLLOW ALMANAC NORTH ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU WILL FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

THE WDSE WEBSITE IS THE PLACE TO GO FOR PROGRAM NOTES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO!

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, STAY HEALTHY EVERYONE, AND BE KIND!

♪